How to import KF8 files to Calibre

JollyRoger · 11-17-2022, 09:00 AM

I got some files from Openculture which are KF8 files but Calibre doesn't seem to see them. Kindle on PC will open them but not convert them. Is there a way to get them into Kindle?

JSWolf · 11-17-2022, 01:33 PM

Can you link to some of these eBooks?

JollyRoger · 11-17-2022, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Can you link to some of these eBooks?

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/11339

theducks · 11-17-2022, 02:27 PM

Which format out of all those?

JollyRoger · 11-17-2022, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JollyRoger

I got some files from Openculture which are KF8 files but Calibre doesn't seem to see them. Kindle on PC will open them but not convert them. Is there a way to get them into Kindle?

.KF8 files I should have said get them into Calibre not Kindle.

Quoth · 11-17-2022, 03:23 PM

Ah, Gutenberg is a bit broken. Download Old Kindle (mobi) from Gutenberg and convert to azw3. I download the old mobi and convert to epub2.
You may want to use the tool in the Editor to remove multiple nested blockquotes and leave only one.

Their stuff used to be automagically converted from marked up proofed text files to text, old mobi and HTML. Then epub was added. Latterly they have added other formats, but may have the wrong file endings at times. Someone there doesn't know how to work Calibre. The KF8 files ought to end in azw3

They OCR scans. Humans proof read and produce text files.

JollyRoger · 11-17-2022, 03:48 PM

Thanks for a comprehensive reply Quoth. I will try renaming the files first and see if that flies. Otherwise I'll just get .mobi files as they work in Calibre and Kindle anyway. Many thanks.

JSWolf · 11-17-2022, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JollyRoger

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/11339

This eBook loaded into Calibre no problem. I used the Kindle version.

gbm · 11-17-2022, 04:06 PM

I just downloaded Aesop's Fables; a new translation by Aesop in the Kindle(new kindles --kf8) format loaded into calibre, converted to epup and emailed it to my kindle with no problems.

Start calibre in debug mode and try it again if it fails post the log.

bernie

P.S.

You can use the kindle unpack plugin to get the base epub from the file .

Quote:

Originally Posted by JollyRoger

.KF8 files I should have said get them into Calibre not Kindle.

JollyRoger · 11-18-2022, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

This eBook loaded into Calibre no problem. I used the Kindle version.

I used the Kindle version which is the kf8 file. You must have some import filter that I don't have?

JSWolf · 11-18-2022, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JollyRoger

I used the Kindle version which is the kf8 file. You must have some import filter that I don't have?

There is no special import filter for KF8. I am using Calibre 6.8.

JollyRoger · 11-18-2022, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbm

I just downloaded Aesop's Fables; a new translation by Aesop in the Kindle(new kindles --kf8) format loaded into calibre, converted to epup and emailed it to my kindle with no problems.

Start calibre in debug mode and try it again if it fails post the log.

bernie

P.S.

You can use the kindle unpack plugin to get the base epub from the file .

So I just tried to import again and this time used "all files" and it has imported them into Calibre. However when I try to convert to azw3 or mobi it says "Could not convert the book because no supported source format was found. " Clearly it doesn't like kf8's

JSWolf · 11-18-2022, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JollyRoger

So I just tried to import again and this time used "all files" and it has imported them into Calibre. However when I try to convert to azw3 or mobi it says "Could not convert the book because no supported source format was found. " Clearly it doesn't like kf8's

Is there a reason you are trying to convert KF8 to KF8 and Mobi? I did convert it to ePub without a problem. I also tried converting to KF8 and it worked.

What version Calibre are you running?

JollyRoger · 11-18-2022, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Is there a reason you are trying to convert KF8 to KF8 and Mobi? I did convert it to ePub without a problem. I also tried converting to KF8 and it worked.

What version Calibre are you running?

All my books are azw3 or mobi, I know they run fine on the Kindle.
I always update Calibre so I'm running at 6.8 atm

jhowell · 11-18-2022, 06:34 AM

There appears to be some name confusion here. KF8 is Amazon's name for the format calibre calls AZW3 because it typically uses a .azw3 file name extension.

The Project Gutenberg file for Kindle is in KF8 format but downloads with a .mobi file extension. If you rename it to have a .azw3 extension it will work better in calibre and on Kindle devices.

This change of file extension will occur automatically upon import to calibre if you have the DeDRM plugin installed and enabled. (This happens even if the file does not contain DRM.)

11-17-2022, 09:00 AM	#1
JollyRoger Groupie Posts: 150 Karma: 68 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Kindle	How to import KF8 files to Calibre I got some files from Openculture which are KF8 files but Calibre doesn't seem to see them. Kindle on PC will open them but not convert them. Is there a way to get them into Kindle?

11-17-2022, 03:23 PM	#6
Quoth Still reading Posts: 14,038 Karma: 105092227 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	Ah, Gutenberg is a bit broken. Download Old Kindle (mobi) from Gutenberg and convert to azw3. I download the old mobi and convert to epub2. You may want to use the tool in the Editor to remove multiple nested blockquotes and leave only one. Their stuff used to be automagically converted from marked up proofed text files to text, old mobi and HTML. Then epub was added. Latterly they have added other formats, but may have the wrong file endings at times. Someone there doesn't know how to work Calibre. The KF8 files ought to end in azw3 They OCR scans. Humans proof read and produce text files. Last edited by Quoth; 11-17-2022 at 03:26 PM.

11-18-2022, 06:34 AM	#15
jhowell Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,072 Karma: 91577715 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Charlottesville, VA Device: Kindles	There appears to be some name confusion here. KF8 is Amazon's name for the format calibre calls AZW3 because it typically uses a .azw3 file name extension. The Project Gutenberg file for Kindle is in KF8 format but downloads with a .mobi file extension. If you rename it to have a .azw3 extension it will work better in calibre and on Kindle devices. This change of file extension will occur automatically upon import to calibre if you have the DeDRM plugin installed and enabled. (This happens even if the file does not contain DRM.) Last edited by jhowell; 11-18-2022 at 06:37 AM.

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11-17-2022, 01:33 PM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,757 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Can you link to some of these eBooks?

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11-17-2022, 03:48 PM	#7
JollyRoger Groupie Posts: 150 Karma: 68 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Kindle	Thanks for a comprehensive reply Quoth. I will try renaming the files first and see if that flies. Otherwise I'll just get .mobi files as they work in Calibre and Kindle anyway. Many thanks.